Eying LS poll, SAD, Cong vie for support to Gujarat Sikh farmers

Chandigarh:  August 3In the run-up to the next Lok Sabha elections, a race of sorts seems to have begun between the main stakeholders in Punjab’s politics to extend support to the Sikh farmers facing eviction from Gujarat.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has already announced that he would be leading a delegation of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders to Gujarat to meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He has also directed the Punjab Government’s legal department to extend the best possible support to the affected farmers to pursue their case in the Supreme Court.

Probably not wanting to be left behind, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa, in a bid to outpace Sukhbir, has announced he would take the affected farmers to party president and UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi to help them out in their hour of crisis.

Alike Sukhbir, Bajwa has also announced legal help. The BJP, however, sees a conspiracy behind the Congress’s move. The saffrom party claims the Congress allegedly wants to project Modi as anti-Sikh. In the process, the Congress also seems to be trying to politically embarrass Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir, both of whom are said to be close to Modi. The Badals had on a few occasions endorsed Modi as a “fit” candidate for the prime minister’s post.

Political race

SAD chief Sukhbir Badal to take up issue with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi

The party has also assured help to the farmers to pursue their case in the Supreme Court

Punjab Congress chief Partap Bajwa to lead the affected farmers to party president Sonia Gandhi

The Congress has also assured legal assistance

Source: The Tribune